James Nesbitt as Detective Tommy Murphy
The majestic and under-appreciated Bryce Canyon National Park
British Release of the Week
Murphy's Law Season 1 (DVD only)
This is a really strong police procedural starring the excellent (and under-appreciated) Irish actor James Nesbitt (Bloody Sunday, Match Point). Nesbitt plays Detective Tommy Murphy, who goes to work for the Metropolitan Police undercover. He's stubborn, a hard drinker, and great to watch. I'm just a couple of episodes in, but I'm sure I've easily found a new show with which to be obsessed. It's gritty, meaty, and very well-written. Normally only 5 episodes of a show would seem like a rip off, but realize these episodes are 90 minutes long apiece and comprise an entire season of episodes from the British style (quality over quantity).
New Release of the Week
The National Parks: America's Best Idea (Blu-ray & DVD)
The rundown of everything on this release is here. I can't recommend it enough for fans of Ken Burns' work or just those with an interest in the National Parks.
Catalog Release of the Week
Mr. Ed Season 1 (DVD only)
It's about time this one showed up on DVD. God bless you, Shout! Factory.
New Release
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (Blu-ray & DVD)
Covered here.
Medium: Season 5
Featurettes: The Making of Medium Season 5, Script to Screen: "Apocalypse...Now?", Jake and Patricia Q&A, Curious Maria
The final season of Medium on NBC apparently vastly outperformed other shows in its terrible timeslot. I've never been into the show, but the story of it getting saved by CBS was thrilling.
Bones: Season 4 (Blu-ray & DVD)
Catalog
From the new retrospective documentary on the Complete Series set.
Ally McBeal: The Complete Series (and Season 1) (DVD only)
It was yet another show that made a bunch of careers explode (Calista Flockheart, Jane Krakowski, Lucy Liu, and Portia de Rossi among others) and helped revive others (Robert Downey, Jr.). Fox has made a wise choice in offering the entire series in a box and then releasing individual seasons. This logic works for all shows that are over and done. If you want it all, it's right there. If you checked out after season X or Y, grab the individual ones you want. There's a pile of new and vintage extras.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Season 5 (DVD only)
In the fifth season of the show, Mary tries her hand at producing (the horror! men's work!), Lou Grant becomes her neighbor, and Ted Baxter starts a rumor that he's dating her. I just realized that Michael Scott on The Office US is a poor man's Ted Baxter.
Get Smart: Season 4 (DVD only)
TV on Disc is generally posted a few days after the corresponding week's Disc Roundup (Movies) and covers the week's TV releases on DVD & Blu-ray. Unless otherwise noted, screener copies of titles reviewed were provided by the respective studio.
If you think I've missed something, feel free to send me an email.